Mai Valentine
Moderator
Intro: When it comes to coaxing the best performance out of new hardware, few creators are as demanding as Konami's Hideo Kojima, creator of the Metal Gear Solid games. While other designers were still complaining about the difficulties of programming for PlayStation 2, Kojima's team set the gaming world on its ear with Metal Gear Solid 2. Small wonder that Sony CEA put Metal Gear Acid, already one of the most technically impressive PSP games, front and center at the unveiling of the handheld.
OPM: What do you look for in portable game systems?
Hideo Kojima: If [I am] restricted to games only, I want to see [new] areas explored with portable game systems that cannot be explored with home consoles. Portable systems should not be smaller versions of home consoles that you carry around.
The games you play on portable systems should take advantage of the fact that they can be carried around, leading to new forms of gameplay. For example, with the Boktai series, changes in the environment [such as sunlight or the lack thereof] affect the gameplay.
Portable games should not be like a regular meal carried around in a fast-food dish. It's more of a dish that you can enjoy only because of the fact that it is takeout food. That's the kind of [experience] I expect portable game systems to provide.
OPM: What do you like about PSP?
HK: It's more of a fashion tool with pop [style] and laid-back positioning than a toy or game console. It's a Walkman that allows you to enjoy video, music, and games.
During my generation, the Walkman was a musical revolution. It enabled us to take music outdoors and pursue our own musical tastes. [Sony has now added] visuals to that experience. "Is it a game console?" is a question that does not have to be asked. You don't necessarily have to play games on the PSP. You don't have to watch videos, either. You don't have to listen to music. Let the consumer choose between videos, music, and games. Let the consumer choose whether he or she feels like watching movies, listening to music, or playing games every day. I think the balance among the three media will differ from consumer to consumer.
OPM: As a game creator, why does the PSP interest you?
HK: I am more interested in the PSP as a consumer than a gamemaker. It's something I would like to carry around. Personally, if I carried around a PSP, videogames would be lower on my priority list.
As a game creator, what interests me is a system that makes me ask myself, "What kinds of new games can I create?" The [Nintendo] DS offers that challenge.
The PSP makes me want to buy it as a consumer.
Source: Sept. 2004 Official Playstation Magazine (OPM)
OPM: What do you look for in portable game systems?
Hideo Kojima: If [I am] restricted to games only, I want to see [new] areas explored with portable game systems that cannot be explored with home consoles. Portable systems should not be smaller versions of home consoles that you carry around.
The games you play on portable systems should take advantage of the fact that they can be carried around, leading to new forms of gameplay. For example, with the Boktai series, changes in the environment [such as sunlight or the lack thereof] affect the gameplay.
Portable games should not be like a regular meal carried around in a fast-food dish. It's more of a dish that you can enjoy only because of the fact that it is takeout food. That's the kind of [experience] I expect portable game systems to provide.
OPM: What do you like about PSP?
HK: It's more of a fashion tool with pop [style] and laid-back positioning than a toy or game console. It's a Walkman that allows you to enjoy video, music, and games.
During my generation, the Walkman was a musical revolution. It enabled us to take music outdoors and pursue our own musical tastes. [Sony has now added] visuals to that experience. "Is it a game console?" is a question that does not have to be asked. You don't necessarily have to play games on the PSP. You don't have to watch videos, either. You don't have to listen to music. Let the consumer choose between videos, music, and games. Let the consumer choose whether he or she feels like watching movies, listening to music, or playing games every day. I think the balance among the three media will differ from consumer to consumer.
OPM: As a game creator, why does the PSP interest you?
HK: I am more interested in the PSP as a consumer than a gamemaker. It's something I would like to carry around. Personally, if I carried around a PSP, videogames would be lower on my priority list.
As a game creator, what interests me is a system that makes me ask myself, "What kinds of new games can I create?" The [Nintendo] DS offers that challenge.
The PSP makes me want to buy it as a consumer.
Source: Sept. 2004 Official Playstation Magazine (OPM)
